Study Desk

So his servants said to him, "Let a young woman who has never had a man be found for my lord the king. Let her help the king and become his nurse. And let her lie in your arms, that my lord the king may be warm."

So they looked through all the land of Israel for a beautiful girl, and found Abishag the Shunammite. And they brought her to the king.

Now Haggith's son Adonijah honored himself, saying, "I will be king." So he made war-wagons and horsemen ready for himself, with fifty men to run in front of him.

Go to King David and say to him, ‘My lord, O king, have you not promised your woman servant, saying, "For sure your son Solomon will be king after me. He will sit on my throne"? Why then has Adonijah become king?'

She said to him, "My lord, you promised your woman servant by the Lord your God, saying, ‘For sure your son Solomon will be king after me. He will sit on my throne.'

Now, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you. They are waiting for you to tell them who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.

They told the king, "Here is Nathan who speaks for God." When Nathan came in front of the king, he put his face to the ground.

For he has gone down today and has killed many cattle and sheep and fat animals. He has asked all the king's sons and the captains of the army and Abiathar the religious leader to come. They are eating and drinking with him, and are saying, ‘Long live King Adonijah!'

Then come up after him. He will come and sit on my throne and be king in my place. For I have chosen him to be ruler over Israel and Judah."

While he was still speaking, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the religious leader came. Adonijah said, "Come in, for you are a man to be trusted, and bring good news."

But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite. Let them be among those who eat at your table. For they helped me when I ran from your brother Absalom.

So do not let him go without being punished. For you are a wise man. You will know what you should do to him. Bring his gray hair down to the grave with blood."

Solomon sat on the throne of his father David and things went well for the nation.

So he said, "You know that the nation was mine. All Israel thought I would be king. But the nation has become my brother's, for it was his from the Lord.

He said, "I beg you, speak to Solomon the king. For he will not say no to you. Ask him to give me Abishag the Shunammite as a wife."

Bathsheba said, "Very well. I will speak to the king for you."

So Bathsheba went to speak to King Solomon for Adonijah. The king stood up to meet her, bowed in front of her, then sat on his throne. He had a seat brought in for the king's mother, and she sat on his right.

She said, "I am asking you for one small thing. Do not say no to me." And the king said to her, "Ask, my mother. I will not say no to you."

King Solomon answered his mother, "Why are you asking me to give Abishag the Shunammite to Adonijah? Ask me to give him the nation also! For he is my older brother. And Abiathar the religious leader and Joab the son of Zeruiah are on his side!"

Then King Solomon swore by the Lord, saying, "May God do so to me and more, if Adonijah has not asked for this against his own life.